The Irish standard., 1887-01-08
ABOUT TEASING.
The True Position Occupied by the Chron-
ic and Incurripible Teaser.

+ 5.F
The True Position Occupied by the Chron-
ic and Incorrigible Teaser.
. Probably almost every body whose
eye falls on the above heading has at
some time or. other been guilty of teas
ing. If those who have been guilty
will reflect on the state of mind they
were in at the time, they will find that
its description includes the following
points: Negatively there is absent a
high purpose, absent an earnestness in
the pursuit Of good, absent that char
ity that impels one to love his nei ghbor
as himself. A person intent on accom-
plishing some positive Improvement or
advantage Tor himself OF for others is
SO far removed from the temptation to
tease that it does not touch him. He
can not turn aside from his pursuit
and lapse into the idle state Of mind
the chronic teaser is in. 1t he has the
right feeling for others, whether those
others be men or animals, he at once
puts himself in their place, and thls ef-
fectually quenches all desire TO tease.
In the mind of the teaser there is
present positively an appetite for
amusement without regard to its law
fulness or unlawfulness, without regard
to the disastrous effect upon the teaser
himself of his own actions. There is
present, too, a belief or conviction that
the object teased is more or less help
less and incapable of striking back.
There is present. wanton and reck-
less spirit of mischief that delights in
the pain or chagrin of others.
The teaser is a free lance, q knight
errant in pursuit OF gratitice cetion at the
expense Of whomsoever he may find
that he dares to attack. He has no re-
gard for the feelings or interest of his
prey, and though he may have no in
tention to intlict serious and lasting in
Jury, lie is willing to in1ict enough to
crafty his delight i'll the torment OF
bis victim, and cares not to reckon the
consequence OF his actions OH himself
or on them. Of one thing he thinks
he is sure-,that he is superior to his
victim and is not likely to get worsGed
in the contest.
When d boy teases a dog, for in
stance, be doesn't choose some big
Newfoundland that could <schew him
up in a minute if irritated, but he
picks out some broken-spirited, help
less cur and makes it the object OF his
prosecutions. He doesn't kick and
torment bull unless that animal is at
safe distance, but he will worrv and
Analtreat peaceable. cow OF horse,
whose very defe1selessness should be
stc,
doesn't s'pitch into" his big brother
who could very soon make him be-
have, but into a younger brother or
sister whom he can vex and fret
till the child is full of stings and
barbs, and is helpless in the hands of
it's tormentor. Your teaser is an ST.
rant coward.
A great many parents foster che
spirit Of teasing in a child by permit
ting it to treat domestic animals un-
kindly. They lack that quick sym
pathy for animals thatnotities the lover
of these dependents on human care
and protection of an infringement on
their inherent rights. Said q father,
whose year-old was abusing a Little
kitten and finding amusement III it's
struggles and cries, :'She pleases the
child and occupies him. She certain
ly earns her board The quality of
mercy is not strained" "The merci-
full man i; merciful to his beast. The
child that will hurt a kitten wantonlY
will, when grown, be cruel to his horse,
his wife, his children, his parents.
The teaser delights in sensitive
subject; the more sensitive the greater
his pleasure in tormenting him. This
sensitiveness, which might if properly
developed make its possessor eminent
in some one or more paths of achieve
ment and happy in the enjoyment Of
his chosen pursuits, often becomes his
bane and the source to him of untold
misery.
There are several ways Of treating the
teaser. One is to commend to his own
lips, if possible, the chalice he places
at the lips Of others and compel him TO
drink till he gets enough. Whom eases
arise in families where this treatment
is indicated, the judicious parent can
find way to stretch The teaser on the
same kind of bed he has prepared tor
another, to hang him as high as he
has planned TO hang his victim. This
will often prepare the way or put the
teaser in a state Of mind where he can
be induced to enter upon a positive
pursuit worthy of devotion and which
will lift him away from the low levels
inhabited by this spirit from one
source.-M Y. Tribus5e.